by Claudia Daly
As temperatures rose during the last weekend of August, world and zone records fell at the 2017 Gil Young Memorial Meet held at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. One hundred seven swimmers from 33 teams competed in the last long course meet of summer. The athletes enjoyed rare blue skies in a month of smoky conditions; a result of devastating wildfires around the northwest.
The refreshing coolness of the water in the 50-meter pool made for fast swims as 19 zone records, including 8 world records were set over the course of the three-day meet. Swimming for Oregon Reign, Willard Lamb led the way breaking 5 of his own world records, dropping his times considerably from the USMS National meet just a few weeks earlier. He posted new World Record times of 1:47.59 for the 100 M Freestyle, 4:04.60 in the 200 M Free, 8:43.18 in his 400 M Free, 17:42.57 in the 800 M Free and 33:39.77 for his 1500 M Freestyle.
World record setting relay of Dave Radcliff Janet Gettling Joy Ward Willard Lamb
‘Wink’ joined relay-mates Joy Ward, Janet Gettling, Ginger Pierson and David Radcliff, as they combined to brake world records in the 320-359 age group Mixed 400 M Freestyle Relay with a 6:07.33 and the 400 M Medley Relay, finishing with a 7:17.49.
Zone records were set by seasoned members Colette Crabbe, Margaret Toppel, Ginger Pierson and Joy Ward. Colette set new marks in the women’s 60-64 200 M Freestyle, 2:35.71, 50 M Breaststroke, 40.65 and 100 M Breaststroke 1:30.29. Margaret toppled records in the Women’s 65-69 50 M Backstroke, 41.46 and 100 M Backstroke, 1:28.07. Ginger swam to a new record in the Women’s 70-74 200 M Breaststroke with a 3:52.09, and Joy, competing in the Women’s 75-79 age group, set zone standards in the 50 M freestyle, 43.02 and the 200 IM, 4:05.44.
In the younger set, Eilhard Lussier, Matt Miller, Scot Sullivan and Matthew Marceau swam to a new zone mark of 8:50.50 in the Men’s 160-199 800 Freestyle Relay. Sonja Skinner and Emily Melina joined Matthew Marceau and Matt Miller to set a zone record in the 120-159 age group, Mixed 800 Freestyle Relay with a 9:21.26.
Oregon Reign Masters came out on top with 456 points, but everyone went home with the satisfaction of competing in a fun meet, having witnessed some amazing swims during a beautiful late summer weekend in Oregon.